A
Modern medicine and the latest technology can save many lives. If you live in a country where healthcare is readily available and accessible, then your chances of recovering from illnesses or accidents are very good. But for many people in the US who are uninsured (无保险的), they can't afford these new medical treatments. That's why Doctor Demetrio Aguila in Norfolk lets poor patients pay for surgery (外科手术) through volunteer work.
“For years I had been doing surgery for patients and taking care of their health problems. Then I would find out months later, sometimes years later, that I had caused their financial ruin,” Aguila said. Serious illnesses can completely deplete a family's savings, leaving them no choice but to go bankrupt (破产).
Then he formed Healing Hands M25 as a way to give poor patients the medical fees they need by donating their time to community service. The process is pretty simple. They practice partners with local charitable organizations. The patient picks the charity and donates his time and sweat; Aguila determines the amount of volunteer hours the patient has to complete. “We've lowered the cost of healthcare. We've made it fair for everybody involved,” Aguila said.
The first patient to participate in the program was Jeffrey Jenson who worked for 560 hours to pay for surgery on his leg. Jenson asked his friends and family to help him complete the hours. Jenson said that his volunteer work greatly affected his life as much as the surgery. “The M25 program is not about money — it's about if people come together to help other people, then the community becomes better,” said Jenson.
This program is a big win for the patients, the local community, and Dr Aguila who knows he has done everything he could to help his patients.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了Aguila医生成立Healing Hands M25帮助患者通过做志愿者工作来支付手术费用。
1.How does Aguila make poor patients pay for surgery?
A.In cash.
B.Through an insurance company.
C.By doing volunteer work.
D.By serving the doctor.
解析:选C 细节理解题。根据第一段的“That's why Doctor Demetrio Aguila in Norfolk lets poor patients pay for surgery (外科手术) through volunteer work.”可知,Aguila让贫困患者通过做志愿者工作来支付手术费用。
2.What does the underlined word “deplete” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A.Set aside. B.Use up.
C.Cut down. D.Add to.
解析:选B 词义猜测题。根据画线词后的 leaving them no choice but to go bankrupt 可知,一个家庭之所以破产是因为严重的疾病会完全耗尽他们所有的积蓄,故deplete意为“耗尽”,故选B项。
3.What is the third paragraph mainly about?
A.What Healing Hands M25 does.
B.How Healing Hands M25 works.
C.Why Aguila runs Healing Hands M25.
D.Why patients choose Healing Hands M25.
解析:选B 段落大意题。根据第三段的内容可知,本段主要讲述了Healing Hands M25这一项目是如何运行的。
4.What is Jenson's attitude towards the M25 program?
A.Positive. B.Negative.
C.Objective. D.Unconcerned.
解析:选A 观点态度题。根据倒数第二段Jenson 所说的话可知,Jenson对Healing Hands M25这个项目持肯定态度。